Gangs In The USA

Juvenile delinquency and violent gangs in
the USA and
The treatment of this subject in
literature

Statistics reveal that the American's youths are committing an
increasing number of violent crimes. But are juvenile offenders fully
responsible for their actions?They are children in the progress of
developing, with proper guidance and treatment they can be rehabilitated into
productive members of society. In contrast to this some people believe that
today's violent juveniles should be transferred to the adult criminal justice
system, in which they would be adequately punished. Others are against
transferring juveniles into adult courts.Where can you draw the line: Are
violent juvenile offenders misguided children or dangerous
criminals?

1.) The Juvenile Justice System Should Punish Violent
Youths:Paul Mc Nulty, who was director of policy and communications in
the U.S. Department of Justice during the Bush administration, predicts a surge
in violent juvenile crime in the first decade of the twenty - first century.
He has the opinion that youths who commit criminal acts should be punished.
More violent crime is committed by older teenagers than by any other age group.
Teenagers from fatherless home commit more crimes than teenagers from intact
families.Offenders under the age of 21 commit more than one-fourth of all
violent crime. Older teenagers (from 17 to 19) are the most violent of all
age groups. While the teenage population in America declined between 1985 to
1995, violent crimes committed by juveniles rose sharply. A large majority
of teenage criminals are from broken and single - parent households, many
teenage boys are growing up without fathers as moral guides. And it is not
unusual that a family member served some time in prison.

2.) The
Juvenile Justice System Should Rehabilitate Violent
Youths:In contrast to Paul Mc Nulty George M.
Anderson advocates the community – based programs being developed in a few
states, which provide youths with education and therapy designed to prepare them
for reentry into their communities. Big institutions make kids worse because
they tend to be hostile, abusive and understaffed.Sure, some
teenagers are psychopaths who can’t be rehabilitated. But most are still
growing and capable of change under the right
circumstances.

3.) Violent Juveniles Should Be Tried As
Adults:Joseph Perkins contends that because
of the severe nature of the violent crime committed by youths today, the
juvenile justice system should be reformed. The court prodeedings of violent
juveniles should be open to the public.Criminal behaviour has
consequences. Many young men haven’t learned that, either.We know how
dangerous a young man with a gun can be, but many young men today use their
bodies as weapons, too. If a boy is old enough to go to war, he is old enough to
drink.If a boy is old enough to rape, he is old enough to serve some time in
prison.More and more kids are wearing firearms and more are involved with
drugs. As it is now, many young offenders are well aware they will receive
lenient treatment in juvenile court no matter how loath – some their crime
was. They will be far more circumspect if they know that they will be tried and
sentenced as an adult if they commit adult crimes.

4.) Violent
Juveniles Should Not Be Tried As
Adults:Placing juveniles in the adult
criminal justice system puts youths at risk for abuse and fails to reduce
crime.It is estimated that every day 2700 babies are born into
poverty, more than 2000 students drop out of school, 250 kids are arrested for
violent crimes, and 1700 are abused by their parents.While schools, jobs and
the social safety net continue to erode, more kids are finding themselves caught
up in an ever – expanding criminal justice system.

Unemployment among teens was 19% in 1993, up from 15.3% five years earlier
– and for black youths, the figure was twice that high. For those who do
find jobs, the average hourly wage has fallen nearly 10% since the
mid-1980s.

In 1992, there were 14.6 million children living below the poverty line,
about 5 million more than 1973.

In 1993, there were 3 million victims of child abuse, a rate 50 percent
higher than in 1985. Studies also indicate taht the majority of prisoners were
abused as children.

Teen suicide rates increased nearly 20 percent during the 1980s.

In
recent years, most states have made it easier to try juvenile killers as adults.
Ignoring the immaturity of a 15- or 16-year old, lawmakers have accepted the
idea that murder is an adult crime and thus deserves an adult
punishment.

Especially in America, gangs are the foundations of violence
and crime.OVERVIEW OF GANGS:

Today a gang can defined
in four basic ways:* an organized group with a leader* a unified group
that usually remains together during peaceful times as well as times of
conflict* a group whose members show unity through clothing, language,
hair...* a group whose activities are criminal or threatening to the larger
society.

Gangs are one of the results of poverty, discrimination and
urban deterioration.Some experts believe that young people, undereducated
and without access to good jobs, become frustrated with their lives and join
gangs as an alternative to boredom, hoplessness and devastating poverty.

THE 19TH CENTURY GANGS:It was not until the 19th century that
"criminal" gangs were first formed. As the result of a worsening economy and
growing population that increased competition for jobs, gangs began to
specialize in crime and became a part of America's cities.

POST CIVIL
WAR:After the Civil War in 1865 New York indicates a large presence of
Jewish, Italian, African-American and Irish gangs. With the increase of
immigrant populations the gang membership grew. Chinese gangs appeared in
California in 1850, Philadelphia became home to over 100 street gangs in 1870,
for example.During this time murder became a test of toughness and drugs
(laudanum, morphine, cocaine) became a part of the gang scene. The level of
violence escalated.It's unbelieveable that a gang of Five Points used murder
as a membership requirement. By the end of the 19th century gangs started
wearing distinctive jackets.

THE 20TH CENTURY GANGS:In the
early 19ths the U.S. economy got worse, the population grew rapidly and the gap
between the rich and poor widened. All across the nation gangs appeared where
poor, hopless people lived.The beginning of the 20th century also brought a
widespread use of firearms with it.

THE 1920s:In 1920 there
were about 1300 gangs in Chicago and more than 25000 members. Gang warfare in
Chicago was widespread and fighting took place along ethnic, cultural and racial
lines.

POST WORLD WAR II:After World War II gang
membership:1.) became younger2.) fire-arms were used more often3.)
the structure of organization became more rigid4.) drug dependence
grew5.) and society became concerned with gangs as a social problem and
worked toward rehabilitation

THE 1950s:During the
1950s gang fighting rose highly in cities like New York, Philadelphia, Boston,
Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles and Cleveland. Gang members were usually in their
teens. Codes of dress (black leather jackets were popular) and mannerisms were
important means of identification. Body language said a lot about the nature of
the gang.When a gang decided to become a fighting gang, its members immedeately
took on a different way of walking. Gang members used guns, knives and homemade
weapons. Most common drugs were (alcohol), marijuana and heroin. Usually
they fought over girls. Gang members believed it was essential to protect the
honour of their girlfriends. And in the late 1950, girl gangs, a bit similar to
boy gangs , were formed.In order to combat the rise of violence,
oranizations like the New York City Youth Board sent social workers into the
slums to form relationships with the gangs. In some cases it worked; in many it
did not.

THE 1960s:In the 60s gang violence declined, but drug
use escalated. Where there was more drug use there was less gang violence. A new
racial consciousness had its effect on local street gangs.

GANGS
TODAY:Since the 1980s, as the ghettos become more and more overcrowded,
a gang's territory has become no more than a single corner or a block. Guns
decide arguments quickly and gang wars today are usually fought like guerilla
warfare with shooting from roofs and quick shots from speeding cars. Gangs are
found in all 50 states and come from many backgrounds. Members are still usually
male, between the ages 13 and 24.

REASONS FOR GANG
MEMBERSHIP:Gangs are still largely populated by young people from
disenfranchised neighbourhoods. Characteristic features are overcrowding, high
unemployment, high drop out rates, lack of social services and a general feeling
of hopelessness. Some experts estimate that more than 80% of gang members
are illiterate and find it nearly impossible to get a job.Young people turn
to gangs to earn a living through drug trafficking, illegal weapons sales,
robbery and theft. Some young people join gangs to gain the protection and the
respect they do not get at home. Or they may join gangs because all their
friends are doing it as well, it semms like a natural thing to do. Some experts
say that young people from troubled homes attempt to find substitute families in
gangs.

GANG STRUCTURE:Gang structure varies. The largest
gangs, some with 2000 members break up into smaller groups called clubs and
cliques. Clubs bring more territory to a gang, cliques assemble new gang members
and unite them along similar interests (street fighting,
burglary).

GANG LEADERSHIP:Some gangs operate informally, the
leadership is falling to whoever takes control. Other gangs have distinct
leaders and highly structured gangs have officers. The president might direct
the gang's business dealings and the vice president might keep members in line,
overseeing the gang's communication network (including car phones,
walkie-talkies, pagers and beepers). Gang members use these devices to
coordinate drug deals and to protect themselves from arrest. The "warlord" keeps
order at gang meetings, plans fights against rival gangs and controls the gang's
arsenal.

SOLUTIONS:Although there are no easy
solutions to the gang problem, sociologists and social workers have some
ideas:1.) Create jobs for young people.2.) Develop community programs in
the arts, sports.....3.) Make sure young people receive a good
education.4.) Create alternate living situations for children who cannot
stay at home.5.) Society as a whole must look at problems of poverty and
discrimination.6.) Young people can do their part by being open to
alternative activities.7.) Against all prejudices young people should
appreciate cultural differences.8.) Provide counseling services for families
and young people.

S.E.HINTON:T
H E O U T S I D E R
S

CONTENT:

Ponyboy,
who is on the way home from the movie house, is attacted by the rival gang, the
"Socs". The members threaten him with a knife and he is really scared to death.
But suddenly his brothers, Darry and Soda, arrive and rescue him. Darry accuses
Ponyboy of being so silly to walk home alone.The next time when Ponyboy
watches a movie film with his "gang - brothers" Jonny and Dally, he meets Marcia
and Cherry, two girls, whose boyfriends belong to the "Socs". Ponyboy is aware
of the fact that Cherry is a member of the rival gang, but he develops a
trusting relationship to her, such as he only knows from his brother.Two
-Bit, also a "Greaser", drives Cherry and Marcia home, and all of a sudden some
"Socs" arrive who want to start a rumble. Jonny recognizes some of the "Socs"
who beat him up some months ago. He was really badly hurt then and he hasn't
been able to forget that day.When Ponyboy comes home late in the evening,
Darry is about to call the police because he is worried about his little
brother. Ponyboy runs away and finds Jonny; both want to run away from home at
this moment. They decide to go to the park when suddenly some drunk "Socs"
approach them and start a fight. Bob, a "Soc", is nearly drowning Ponyboy in a
fountain and Jonny, who has been wearing a knife since some "Socs" jumped him a
few months ago, stabs Bob to defend himself against these quarrelsome and brutal
"Socs".A panic is rising in Ponyboy and Jonny and that's why they flee to
Dally. Dally gives the two boys money and a gun and orders them to hide in a
small secluded church in the country. Knowing that the police will come soon
they hurry to the train station and hop on the train. Jonny and Ponyboy realize
the first time what happened that night and the awareness that Jonny is a
murderer is like a nightmare for them.One week they have to live in this
church until Dally will come to check if both are allright. Jonny and Ponyboy
feel alone; they think about the future and home and are scared: How long do
they have to hide? This time in the church, which seems to have no end,
strengthens their friendship. After some days Darry arrives. He can't believe
his eyes when he looks at Ponyboy and Jonny with short hair.The police is
searching for them at home and with short hair people would perhaps not
recognize them from the paper. They drive away to get something to eat.
Jonny can't bear this emotional burden of being a killer, that's why he wants to
go to the police and he tells Dally and Pony about his decision. After a
short time they come back while something frightening has happened in the
meantime: the church is blazing in flames and 8 children are inside. Jonny and
Ponyboy, who believe that they are responsible for the fire, crawl into it to
rescue the children.Ponyboys back is burnt a bit and some hours later when
he wakes up in hospital Darry tells him that Jonny is badly hurt (his back is
broken and in addition he is burnt pretty severely.)The police is already
waiting to have a conversation with Ponyboy. He and Jonny do not have to hide
any longer so he tells the police the course of events. The policeman gets to
know that Jonny had to defend himself and had to help Ponyboy, otherwise Bob, a
"Soc", would have drowned Pony. Additional to that Cherry, Bob's girlfriend,
told the police that the "Socs" were drunk that evening and wanted to start a
fight with the "Greasers".Darry and Soda, who haven't been able to sleep a
wink all nights since Ponyboy disappeared, are giving their brother with the
other members of the gang a warm welcome. But this mood is spoiled because Jonny
is in critical condition.On the one hand Ponyboy is weak because of the
strains of the last days, but on the other hand he can't be prevented from
taking part in the following fight between the "Socs" and the
"Greasers".With the support of other gangs the "Greasers" win this
fight.Dally is quite upset about Jonny, who will die soon, so they drive to
the hospital very fast to tell Jonny that they won the fight. Immediately
afterwards Jonny closes his eyes and dies.Dally is so sad about Jonny's
death that he wants to die as well. He lost a person he really loved. Full of
anger he robbs a grocery store and when the police is chasing him he raises his
gun, which is not loaded, he is bluffing. As the policemen don't know that they
shoot him. "Dally Winston wants to be dead and he always gets what he
wants."Ponyboy gets very ill, but his brothers stay on his side and take
care of him. A few days later the court's hearing is over but Pony can't draw a
deep breath, because it could happen that he has to stay some time at a boys'
home. After his recovery Ponyboy has some quarrels with Darry about his bad
marks at school, because he has always been a good schoolboy until now. But
suddenly Soda, who has the role of a mediator between his two brothers, can't
stand their fights any more. It's the first time Soda tells them about his
feelings, which reminds Pony and Darry that they should stick together: They are
a family!

THE MAIN
CHARACTERS:

PONYBOY:He is 14 years old and the
youngest member of the gang called "Greasers".Ponyboy's parents died in a
car accident some months ago and now his brothers, Soda and Darry, take care of
him. Ponyboy is very proud of his light - brown long hair, because it is typical
of all "Greasers" to wear long hair. He is a clever guy who gets good marks at
school until the course of events overcharges him. He is too young to be able to
estimate danger, risk and what violent behaviour can cause. Most of the time
Pony does not consider that his oldest brother sacrifices his own hopeful
future, additionally he thinks that Darry does not love him, because he nags at
him and orders him around, but his brother only means well.In the church
when he changes his appearence he wants to break out of this situation. Life has
changed too fast since he was pulled out of his daily routine.

SODA (Ponyboy's brother):He is about 17 years old and works at a gas
station.He is always grinning and tries to be helpful and understanding,
that's why Ponyboy loves him more than anyone else. He knows that his brothers
have many quarrels and it takes him a lot of time and patience to stop them. But
he hides his feelings, which is the worst thing he does. He believes that there
is no place for his problems.

DARRY (Ponyboy's oldest brother):He is
20 years old. Darry is tall, broad - shouldered and muscular, hard and
firm.His eyes can be gentle and sympathetic one moment and blazing with
anger the next. Sometimes his eyes are really cold.Ponyboy believes that
Darry doesn't like him, because he is always moaning about him.In contrast
to this believe Darry loves Ponyboy, although he is sometimes unable to show his
love.Since his parents died he has always been trying to protect Ponyboy
from all dangerous situations. He is also the one who wants Ponyboy to go to
collage and who wants him to work and study hard so that Ponyboy will be able to
realize his dreams some day. Darry didn't have the chance to finish school
because he has to go to work to earn a living.Darry feels responsible for
his two younger brothers and he would do everything to protect and help them,
although Ponyboy is not of this opinion. Darry has to carry the responsibility
for his brothers and so it is understandable for him to be strict to them,
because if something happens to the boys it will be his fault and then Sodapop
and Ponyboy will have to go to a boys' home and that's not very
pleasant.

TWO -BIT MATHEWS:He is the oldest of the gang. Ponyboy
likes him because he has a wide grin like Soda.A characteristic feature of
Two -Bit is that you are not able to shut up that guy.

DALLAS WINSTON
(DALLY):Dally spent three years on the wild side of New York and was
arrested at the age of ten.His eyes are cold with a hatred against the whole
world.He is tougher, colder, meaner than the rest of them. But deep inside
he has a good core, although he was arrested, got drunk, lied, cheated, stole,
and so on.First Ponyboy didn't like him because he had to respect
him.Darry succeeds in doing what he wants. But there is one event he feels
guilty of: The fact that Jonny is dangerously hurt because of saving the
children. He, the most experienced gang brother, stayed outside the church, and
now Jonny is in bad condition, so he thinks he is involved in Jonny's burning.

JONNY CADE:He is the gang's pet and about 16 years old.
He is a very good listener and Ponyboy's best friend.Jonny is against
violence but since he was beaten up by the "Socs" he has always been carrying a
knife with him. And at home life isn't bearable: His father often beats him up
and his mother ignores him.One of the most embarrassing sentences in the
book is when Jonny says that he would be happy if his father or his mother beat
him, because then they would realize that he was there. He dreams about an
intact family, but this only stays a dream.When Jonny kills a member of the
rival gang a nightmare starts for him because before he couldn't even "hurt" a
fly.Jonny is a quiet boy who sometimes thinks of suicide, because he cannot
stand his terrible life, especially he can't cope with his murdering Bob. But in
hospital Jonny changes his mind and he starts to fight for his life. He is aware
of dying soon, it's too late for changes! Even when his mum wants to visit him
in hospital he refuses because she has been neglecting him all his
life.

RANDY (from the "Socs"):Randy has no prejudices against the
"Greasers", he says what he thinks and in my opinion it is worth mentioning that
he is a honest boy. Once he starts a conversation with Ponyboy in his car, the
next time he visits him after his accident at home, which is an indication that
he is sick of the fights between these two gangs. If there were different
circumstances I could imagine that Randy and Ponyboy would become friends
someday.

CHERRY VALANCE (Bob's girlfriend):She understands the
"Greasers" and tries to help Jonny and Pony although they killed her boyfriend.
Cherry is a nice girl who stands between two gangs. On the one hand she is
familiar with the lifestyle of the "Socs" and belongs to them as well, but on
the other hand she feels for the "Greasers" and builds up a relationship to some
members.

THE GANGS:

1.) The
GREASERS: boys from the "East Side"of the city
poorer than the "Socs" and middle class The
"Greasers" are not well organized, they are rather a small
bunch of friends who stick together.
The members are guys with greasy long
hair. The kids or youngsters spend their
days outside in the streets, sometimes they
sleep outside because they are tired of hearing
their parents quarrelling and shouting.

2.) The SOCS: rich kids from the "West Side"of the city
contrasting and rival gang of the "Greasers"
almost everyone has a car and a weapon too

Some guys of the Socs pretend to be very cool because of the fact
that

they have money, but in reality they are
not.
STEPHEN SONDHEIM:W E S T S I D E S T O R
Y

CONTENT:
This play
is about two gangs of the West Side of New York City. RIFF is the leader of the
JETS.The opposition - a Puerto Rican gang called the SHARKS, is lead by
BERNARDO.Inevitably it is bound to happen that they want to fight against
each other. The two gangs want to set the date of the fight at a dance. The
Jets, who believe that they are the greatest, were founded by Riff and his best
friend TONY. Later, Tony has been drifting away from the Jets. He even has a job
at Doc's candy store. Riff goes to the candy store to persuade Tony to come to
the dance too.For MARIA the dance is also very important. It has been one
month since her brother, Bernardo, brought her to America.

The dance
begins fairly well, but when Bernardo arrives with Anita and Maria with Chino
(the boy, Maria has to marry), the dance becomes a competition between Jets and
Sharks. Suddenly Tony arrives. From opposite sides of the gym he and Maria see
each other for the first time. Later, Tony walks through the streets, lost
in a dream and only thinking of the girl he has just met and he has just fallen
in love with. At the dance, as planned, Bernardo is challenging to a
rumble.After a while Maria hears a voice from outside of her window. It's
Tony. She goes out onto the fire escape and he climbs up to join her. For a
moment they forget their problems. Tomorrow evening they will meet at the Bridal
Shop, where Maria works. At Doc's candy store, where a "war council" is
taking place, Riff and his Jets are visited by OFFICER KRUPKE, a cop, who warns
the boys not to cause trouble.When Tony comes to meet Maria the next day,
she wants him to stop the fight between the Jets and the Sharks. The rumble is
about to begin when Tony arrives. He attempts to reconcile the two gangs, but
Bernardo insults him. In the fight that follows the forbidden knives appear, and
Riff is killed by Bernardo. Tony gets so angry that he stabs Bernardo. The
rumble ends with the scream of the police siren. Tony flees to Maria, who has
already heard that he killed her brother, but she can't hate him.

The
Jets, now commanded by ICE, determine to protect Tony - particularly from Chino,
who is searching for him with a gun. Anita agrees to find Tony at Doc's Candy
store, where he's hiding, to tell him that Maria will join him. In a rage,
because she is pestered by the Jets, she delivers another message. They should
inform Tony that Chino found out about him and Maria and that Chino shot
her.Tony , who believes that Maria is dead, is running lost in thought
through the streets. Suddenly he stops, as he sees a figure in the darkness of
the playground. It's Maria! He starts running to her, ignorantly that another
figure steps out of the shadows; it's Chino who pulls out his gun and fires.
Tony stumbles and Maria, who is running to him, catches him. Tony dies in
her arms.

THE MAIN
CHARACTERS:

MARIA: * She is lacking in self -
confidence.* With New York, her new home town, she is not really
familiar.* She can’t hate Tony, although he killed her brother.*
She wants to stay at Tony’s side all her life knowing that there are
dangerous situations they have to cope with.

TONY:* He is in
love with Maria.* He stabbed Bernardo, Maria's brother, in rage, because
Bernardo killed his best friend.* He is sick of the fights between the
"Jets" and the "Sharks".* He is a sensitive and helpful person who wishes:
"There's a place for us, a time and place for
us!"